Donner Ski Ranch avalanche victim identified

Related Media

NORDEN, Calif. - Search teams at Donner Ski Ranch on Monday recovered the body of a local man who died after apparently being swept away in an avalanche, sheriff's officials said.

A man called the Nevada County Sheriff's Department shortly after noon Monday, reporting that his friend, who was snowboarding, had not returned as planned, and he feared his friend may have been caught up in an avalanche that occurred at the ski resort sometime around 9:30 a.m., said Sgt. Bob Jakobs.

Authorities identified the deceased man Monday evening as Steven Mark Anderson, 49, of Hirschdale, located just east of Truckee.

Surrounding ski resorts were called to help search for Anderson as Nevada County deputies and search and rescue crews began to comb Donner Ski Ranch.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., a Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol canine alerted search crews to an area at the base of the slide's debris field, Jakobs said. Anderson's body was quickly located approximately 2 feet to 3 feet under the snow where the canine had alerted.